What Can Be Done To Help With School Success?

Effective collaboration and communication between home and school

provide structure across the two major settings in the child’s life. Common
rewards, reinforcement strategies, and language help to promote
consistency across settings.

Collaborative partnerships between home and school were especially important during
the initial assessment in order to implement and monitor behavior modification plans, the
evaluations of medication, and the coordination of assignments. If the child is taking
medication, the teacher can offer feedback to parents regarding how the medication
affects the student’s performance and the duration of the medicine’s effectiveness. This
information also can be used to help medical professionals make more informed
decisions about the child with ADHD.

Tips for School

A student with ADHD can present unique challenges in the classroom. Inattention,
hyperactivity, or impulsivity can be the source of frustration, but there are ways teachers
can help students with ADHD to improve the educational experience and control the
symptoms of the disorder. It is important for teachers to be aware of coexisting
conditions such as learning disabilities, as well as reinforcing the importance of
classroom and instructional structure.

The following are tips for teachers:

How to get the most out of academic performance:

 Keeping a set routine and schedule for activities

 Work on the most difficult concepts early in the day

 Give directions to one assignment at a time instead of directions to multiple tasks

all at once

 Vary the pace and type of activity to maximize the student’s attention

 Using a system of clear rewards and consequences, such as a point system or

token economy e.g (stamps, stickers, a jar of marbles can be used to earn extra
computer time, doodle time, recess time)

 Verbally praising “on task” behaviour vs. reprimanding “off task” behaviour

 Encouraging students to pause a moment before answering questions

 Keeping assignments short or breaking them into sections

 Keeping classroom surroundings positive and manageable:

 Structure the student’s environment to accommodate his or her special needs. For
example, the student can be seated away from potentially distracting areas (such
as doors, windows, computers, fans etc.) or seated near another student who is
working on a shared assignment

 Seating the child near the teacher

 Using small groups for activities

 Using a system of clear rewards and consequences, such as a point system or

token economy (have pictures of the rewards taped to the desk)

Encouraging a Positive Relationship between school & home:

 Sending daily or weekly report cards or behavior charts to parents to inform them
about the child's progress

 Establishing a specific time that you can speak regularly by telephone or email

Recess & Lunchroom Success Tips: ADHD children need recess time to be active -
it can also be a time when they run into trouble due to the lack of structure - try not
to take recess time away!

 Close supervision

 Set up a “play buddy”

 Provide some structure – suggest certain games (deck of cards, Jenga game,
Connect “4”) - give outdoor deck of cards, Jenga game, Connect “4”equipment to
be used such as a balls, hula hoops, skipping ropes etc.

Books related to ADHD and School:

1. How to Reach and Teach ADD/ADHD Children: Practical Techniques,

Strategies, and Interventions for Helping Children with Attention Problems and
Hyperactivity - Author: Sandra F. Rief
2. Teaching Teens with ADD and ADHD - Author: Chris Zeigler Dendy